dreamfactory313 said:

I rooted for Detroit against the Lakers because I disliked Kobe so much but that was 2 years ago. I hope Dallas wins it this year. I like the Suns also but Dallas is OVER due.

NBA playoffs captivating

Something interesting has been going on for the past couple of weeks and you probably weren't even aware of it. There has been a shift in the pro sports landscape that most observes felt would never occur, and it has nothing to do with Danica Patrick, Babe Ruth or Michelle Wie.

Put simply, the NBA is back.

These playoffs have provided nightly drama and on-court brilliance the likes of which no other sport can match.

The games have been close, highly watchable contests that have showcased the NBA for what it could be, a collection of the best basketball talent in the world playing at a high level.

It doesn't get much better in sports than a Game 7 in a playoff series, and the NBA will provided three in 36 hours. Great stuff.

Especially in the Western Conference series, but to an extent everywhere, the action has been a free-flowing mix of shooting, passing and attacking that is basketball at it best. Gone is the clutch-and-hold style and reliance on isolation plays that drove so many casual fans away from the game in recent years.

These playoffs have had it all.

Stars have played like stars should. Kobe Bryant, Gilbert Arenas and Ben Gordon were superb in their playoff series ... and they all lost. Now we have LeBron James and Chauncy Billups and Steve Nash and Elton Brand, to name a few, all top-flight players who have performed up to their billing.

An aside on Nash, the two-time MVP: If you were choosing up sides in the local gym and didn't know any of the players, Nash would probably be the 10th guy picked. That would be a mistake.

The NBA playoff games are all about the players, not the coaches. A call goes against a team and there are no long TV shots of the coach whining. No ripping off suit jackets or kicking chairs.

These playoffs have shown what the league is at its best. That's the sounder ground for comparing the sports.

The NBA has captured many hearts and minds in the past two weeks by showcasing itself as a sport once again on the rise. And if you haven't bothered to notice, You're missing quite a show.

***** 2006 NBA Conference Finals Schedules *****
(All Times Eastern)

Eastern Conference Finals
-----

(2) Miami Heat vs. (1) Detroit Pistons
-----
Game One - Tuesday, May 23 - Miami at Detroit, 8 p.m.
Game Two - Thursday, May 25 - Miami at Detroit, 8 p.m.
Game Three - Saturday, May 27 - Detroit at Miami, 8 p.m.
Game Four - Monday, May 29 - Detroit at Miami, 8 p.m.
*Game Five - Wednesday, May 31 - Miami at Detroit, 8 p.m.
*Game Six - Friday, June 2 - Detroit at Miami, 8 p.m.
*Game Seven - Sunday, June 4 - Miami at Detroit, 8 p.m.
*if necessary

Western Conference Finals
-----

(2) Phoenix Suns vs. (4) Dallas Mavericks
-----
Game One - Wednesday, May 24 - Phoenix at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Game Two - Friday, May 26 - Phoenix at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Game Three - Sunday, May 28 - Dallas at Phoenix, 8:30 p.m.
Game Four - Tuesday, May 30 - Dallas at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
*Game Five - Thursday, June 1 - Phoenix at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
*Game Six - Saturday, June 3 - Dallas at Phoenix, 8:30 p.m.
*Game Seven - Monday, June 5 - Phoenix at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
*if necessary
[Edited 5/23/06 18:32pm]

That article is right- the NBA is back in a big way. My mom and brother are even getting into it, and they haven't paid attention to basketball since the 80s other than Detroit's championship in '04.

Last night's Mavs/Spurs game was high drama, edge of your seat basketball, a truely incredible game. Im looking forward to tonight's PISTONS/HEAT game. GO PISTONS... and GO TIGERS!
[Edited 5/23/06 14:30pm]

july said:

Agreed. I LOVE it. I always get a kick when people make dumb comments like the NCAA games are better. The NCAA are not even CLOSE to the NBA playoffs. It's NO CONTEST.

PLAYOFF SERIES: Eastern Conference finals; Game 1.

Even though their journeys to get here didn't go as many expected, the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons are squaring off again in the Eastern Conference finals.

Just as was the case last year, Shaquille O'Neal and the Heat enter well-rested as they try to prevent the Detroit Pistons from returning to the NBA Finals.
[Edited 5/23/06 16:57pm]

Miami 48 Half
At
Detroit 44

MIA: D. Wade 13 Pts, 1 Reb, 2 Ast
DET: C. Billups 12 Pts, 0 Reb, 4 Ast

july said:

The Pistons ain't doing that well. Even at home. They been trailing all game.
They were down by 11 pts at the beginning of 1st quarter.
They definitely lucky to be only down by 4 at the half.

Pistons have been completely outplayed this half. Miami deserve to win this one.

Could make this one an interesting series.

july said:

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Miami 91 Final
At
Detroit 86

MIA: D. Wade 25 Pts, 3 Reb, 5 Ast
DET: R. Hamilton 22 Pts, 4 Reb, 3 Ast

Heat lead series 1-0

Graycap23 said:

That is so true. The NCAA tourney has NOTHING on the NBA Playoffs. I barely watched 3 games of the NCAA tourney this year and I blew off the Final Four completely. However, I've been glued to my tele many nights since the NBA playoffs started. The NBA playoffs is a basketball heaven of sorts. High drama, great teams, great players and unbelievable games. I haven't been this into the NBA since the Bulls' run of the 1990s. The 2006 NBA Playoffs have been better than the NCAA Tourney and NFL Playoffs combined IMHO. I'm just happy to see the return of the great game.

july said:

GO MIAMI!!!

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Phoenix 54-28 (Road: 23-18) 8:30pm ET
At
Dallas 60-22 (Home: 34-7) TNT

Series tied 0-0

PLAYOFF SERIES: Western Conference finals; Game 1.

Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks shed a huge burden. Now they have a chance to get rid of an even bigger one.

Having ousted the defending champions, the Mavericks are looking to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history as they begin what could be a run-and-gun series against Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference finals.

july said:

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Phoenix 120 Final
At
Dallas 118

PHO: S. Nash 27 Pts, 5 Reb, 16 Ast
DAL: D. Nowitzki 25 Pts, 19 Reb, 2 Ast

Suns lead series 1-0

july said:

Go SUNSSSSS!!!!!

july said:

How someone can dish out 16 assists and yet still score 27 points is incredible. Oh, and throw 5 boards in there.

What an INCREDIBLE game last night! Boris Diaw is the man. I have a new respect for that French brotha. Steve Nash made to critical shots (one a 3 pointer and the other a "how did he do that" high bucket). I enjoyed this game 1 of the WCF much more than game 1 of the ECF. Tonight's game at the Palace is a must win for the PISTONS. I wish we coulda won game 1, but IF IT AINT ROUGH, IT AINT RIGHT!


Boris Diaw


Raja Bell suffered a torn calf muscle in Game 1 of the WCF. Get well soon cuz.


Boris Diaw #3 leans over teammate Raja Bell #19 of the Phoenix Suns after Bell was injured in the second half.

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Miami 52-30 (Road: 21-20) 8:00pm ET
At
Detroit 64-18 (Home: 37-4) ESPN

Heat lead series 1-0

applekisses said:

U GOTTA watch this http://youtube.com/watch?...on%20james

100MPH said:

Having played basketball all of my life I must tell you that the film is doctored. You CANNOT shoot from that distance with that type of arch and follow through. Don't believe everything u see.

Graycap23 said:

Oh ... okay

PLAYOFF SERIES: Eastern Conference finals; Heat lead 1-0.

If the Detroit Pistons hoped limiting the production of Shaquille O'Neal and Dwayne Wade would lead to another trip to the NBA Finals, they better find a new gameplan.

Unlike last year's Eastern Conference finals, the Miami Heat appear to have role players they can count on, and that may be the biggest reason the Pistons are trying to avoid leaving home in an 0-2 hole.

Detroit also needs to get its shooting on track, having hit 38 percent from the field while Miami shot 56 percent in a 91-86 victory in Game 1 on Tuesday to immediately steal home-court advantage.

july said:

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Miami 88
At
Detroit 92 Final

MIA: D. Wade 32 Pts, 7 Reb, 5 Ast
DET: T. Prince 24 Pts, 11 Reb, 3 Ast

Series tied 1-1

july said:

IF IT AINT ROUGH, IT AINT RIGHT!!

Friday, May 26, 2006

Phoenix 54-28 (Road: 23-18) 8:30pm ET
At
Dallas 60-22 (Home: 34-7) TNT

Suns lead series 1-0

PLAYOFF SERIES: Western Conference finals; Suns lead 1-0.

Steve Nash and Boris Diaw carried the Phoenix Suns to a thrilling win in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. The Dallas Mavericks helped.

The Mavs look to rebound from a sloppy performance and avoid going to Phoenix in an 0-2 hole as the teams meet in Game 2 at the American Airlines Center.

Dallas squandered a nine-point lead in the final 3:43 of Wednesday's 121-118 loss, committing four turnovers in the final 77 seconds and failing to contain Steve Nash. The NBA MVP had 10 points during a 12-2 burst and assisted on a basket by Shawn Marion with 43 seconds to play that gave Phoenix a 117-116 lead.

july said:

Friday, May 26, 2006

Phoenix 98
At
Dallas 105 Final

PHO: B. Diaw 25 Pts, 10 Reb, 6 Ast
DAL: D. Nowitzki 30 Pts, 14 Reb, 6 Ast

Series tied 1-1